Clinton aides Abedin and Mills duke it out over email

Two of Hillary Clinton’s closest aides, Huma Abedin and chief of staff Cheryl Mills, tussled via email in October 2010 about what appears to be an outgoing Secret Service detail — and who would replace him. Mills also lightly scolded Abedin in the exchange for sending her complaints over email rather than discussing them privately.

“[Redacted] just filled me in on your conversations. I would have appreciated a chance to discuss this before it was finalized,” Abedin wrote Mills on Oct. 20, 2010, in an email that was released by the State Department on Friday.

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The person, she continued, “has been a HUGE asset protecting our interests and balancing usss politics.” USSS is often short for United States Secret Service.

“He has gone above and beyond in every way and anyone more stringent will make our life and travel more complicated,” she vented. “Starting from scratch with someone else is going to be challenging.”

Mills responded the next day: “Huma: I am always happy to discuss organizational and personnel matters, we can do that in person rather than on email.”

Then, she addressed Abedin’s comments, calling the situation “an opportunity for career growth and development for [redacted] something I know you support.”

“We should embrace and reward that, even when it means we have to make new adjustments,” she continued. “This is rotation time and while I am sure if asked he would stay, he would miss the chance to manage the security at the [redacted]. we have [redacted].”